Make a DIY Potting Station from a Dresser

Perk up an old desk or dresser and turn it into a convenient backyard workspace. Customize your DIY potting station to suit your needs and personal style. A few fun ideas include:

• Stash garden gadgets on a handy magnetic strip. (You can find magnetic strips for tools at most hardware stores.)
• Remove drawers to make shelving for potting soil and other essentials. To create a shelf, cut a piece of wood to fit (we used the original hutch backing), remove drawer tracks and screw wood piece in place.
• Add hooks for a sun hat, garden smock, or rake.
• Replace drawer handles with vintage faucet knobs for added flair. If new handles require different holes, fill the existing holes with wood putty. Sand and wipe the surface clean, paint drawer fronts, and drill holes for new hardware.

This craft originally appeared in Country Woman Magazine.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Step 1

Remove backing from desk or dresser, if needed. Measure opening. Trim planks to the height of furniture piece.

Step 2

Lay out fence pieces side by side, top and bottom edges even, to match width of opening, leaving up to 1/4 in. between each plank to meet the measurement. Cut crossbars to fit. Screw a crossbar across all planks about one-third of the way down from top edge. Repeat with the other crossbar about one-third of the way up from bottom edge. Paint.

Step 3

Prep entire furniture piece, sanding lightly and wiping clean. Apply a coat of primer if needed. Paint with 2 to 3 coats of exterior paint, letting dry between coats. Once paint is dry, use drill to attach fence assembly to furniture, crossbars at rear. Make sure screws penetrate solid wood, usually at the edges or near joints.